Machine for tying wire ties



H. B. FOULDER MACHINE FOR TYING WIRE TIES Aug. 21, 1928.

4 Shee is-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 7, 1924 INVENTOR A TTOR NE Y Aug. 21, 1928:

H. B. FOULDER MACHINE FOR TYING WIRE TIES Filed Feb. 7, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 *uummu INVENTOR ATTORNEY Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,610

H. B FOULDER MACHINE FOR TYING WIRE TIES Filed Feb. *7, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR A TTOR NE Y Aug. 21, 1928.

B. FOULDER MACHINE FOR TYING WIRE TIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. '7, 1924 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY B. FOULDER, OF GLENBROOK, CONNECTXGUT, ASSIGNOR TO T. I. CURRY MFG.

'00., INQ, OF STAIVIFORD, COHNEGTICUT, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR TYING WIRE TIES.

Application filed February 7, 1924.

This invention relates to machines for tying wire ties, and more particularly relates to power driven bench tools for twisting wire ties about the necks of bags, the tools being 5 adapted to be started at the will of the operator to automatically give a tie a predetermined number of twists and then to release it from the machine, automatically stopping in properposition to receive and to operate 1 upon another tie.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a machine of the character described, and one which operates positively, rapidly, efliciently and smoothly, and requires little power; one which may be built small and light enough to be conveniently portable, comprising sturdy parts compactly assembled, and including a minimum number of del cate parts, such as would be apt to break or become dis elaced under rough or continued use. Another object of my invention is to provide a tool of the character described, and one in which the parts are so connected that synchronism of movement of all parts of the machine is assured at all times, and the parts are prevented from becoming out of adjustment. Another object of my invention is to provide a machine of the character described provided with starting mechanism which requires a positive motion on the part of the operator to start. the machine each time to twist a tie, and is not effective to prevent the automatic stopping of the machine after it has completed each full cycle of movements. Anotherobject of my invention is to provide a releasing tie holding head which is simple in construction and efiicicnt in operation. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction here inafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In order that a clearer understanding of my invention may be had, attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis application and illustrating one possible embodiment of my in 'tion thereof being shown in section.

Serial No. 691,124.

vent-ion. Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 1S aside elevation of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is atop elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a portion thereof and is taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4; is a sectional View of a portion. thereof and is taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the twisting head and spindle in tie'retaining condition, the twisting head and a portion of the spindle being shown in section; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but shows the parts in. tie releasing condition; and Fig. 7 is a view of a modified form of twisting head, a por- Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a suitable base plate 1 having suitable spaced supporting standards 2 and 3. A drive shaft 4 is rotatably and slidably mounted on the standards. A pulley 5 is mounted on shaft 4 for constant rotation from a source of power (not shown). A clutch disc 6 is aflixed by pin 6 to the shaft 4 on one side of pulley 5, and at the other side of the puileyfi is a complementary clutch disc 7, which has a hub 8 rotatably extending through standard 2 and has a collar 9 secured to this hub on the opposite side ofthe standard. Shaft 4 rotates and slides in hub 8. A coil spring 10 is confined between the collar 9 and another collar 11 secured to the shaft 4, and this spring constantly urges the shaft i and its clutch disc 6 to move toward the front of the machine and to cause the pulley 5 to be clutched between the discs 6 and 7, so that the shaft 4, will rotate with the pulley 5.

A tie twisting spindle 12 is mounted for rotation in the standards 2 and 3, and preferably above and to one side of the shaft 4:. This spindle carries a tie twisting head 13 at its forward end. The twisting spindle 12 is caused to be rotated Whenever shaft 4 rotates through the intervention of a gear 14 secured to the shaft 4 and in constant mesh with a gear wheel 15, which is mounted for rotation on a-stud 16 projecting from the standard 3. This gear wheel carries a Ill crank arm 17 which reciprocates a sector gear element 18, the teeth of whlch are n constant mesh with a. gear 19 fixed upon the twisting spindle 12. Sector gear", 18 is mounted for rotatable reciprocation on a shaft 20 supported by the standards. It will be readily apparent that each time the gear wheel 15 makes one revolution, the spindle 12 will be rotated a certain number of turns in one direction and then will be rotated the same number of turns in the reverse direction into initial position. Preferably, the gear ratio is such that for each revolution of the gear wheel 15, the spindle 12 will be retated two and one-half revolutions first in one d'i cction and then in the reverse direction.

I provide means whereby the operator may quickly and easily throw in the clutch 6, 7 to cause the spindle 12 to undergo these rotations, and I also provide means whereby, when the spindle 12 has been rotated. in one direction and then in the other into initial position, the clutch will be thrown out and the rotation of the drive shaft 4 will be stopped.

" I also provide means for releasing a twisted tie from association with the twisting head when the spindle has finished its rotation in tie twisting direction and as it starts rotation in the reverse direction.

21 is a finger or projection affixed to the shaft 4. 22 is a sleeve rotatably mounted on a stud 23 attached to the standard 3. To one end of this sleeve. 22 is a finger portion 24, the front end 25 of which has a beveled surface adapted to be moved into and out of the path of rotation of the finger 21, so that whenever the finger portion 21 rides up the beveled surface 25, the linger 21 and the shaft 4 attached thereto will be cammed rearwardly and the clutch members 6, 7 will be opened and the shaft 4 will be disconnected from rotation from pulley 5 until the linger 25 is raised from behind the finger 21, and allows the clutch to be thrown in by the action of 'the spring 10. 26 is a shoulder on finger 24 behind tapered surface 25 against which the linger 21 strikes to stop rotation of shaft 4. 27 is a heel portion of finger 24 which is adapted to be releasably engaged in a notch of a latch 28, which is pivotally mounted, as at 29, to a member 30, which in turn is pivotally mounted on the standard 3, as at 31, and is fixedly connected with a lever arm 32, which extends outwardly at the side of the machine, and, if desired, may be connected with afoot lever 33 by means of pivoted connecting link 34. 35 is a heel portion of latch 28 and 36 is a stop pin positioned to engage the portion 35 and thereby earn the latch 28 downward and out of engagement with-the heel 27 of the finger 24, after the latch 28 has been moved inwardly, as a result of the lever 32 being moved downwardly, a sullicient distance to raise the finger 24 out of the path of the projection 21. 37is a spring attached engage the heel 27 of the finger 24.

Fixed to the other end of sleeve 22 is an arm 41, the end 42 of which constantly rides on the periphe 'al cam surface 43 of a cam disc 44 which is fixed to the gear wheel 15 for rotation therewith. The coaction between the cam disc 44 and the finger 41 is such that when 'the finger 41 rides on the raised surface of the cam, the finger 24 will be held out of the path of rotation of the d rim shaft projection 21, but when the finger 41 rides on the de pressed portion 45 of the cam disc 44, the finger 24 will be positioned in the path of rotation of the projection 21. A spring 46 constantly urges the finger 24 to assume lowered position. 1

In one form of twisting head illustrator, there is pivoted to the body of the head a tie engaging finger 50 having a heel portion 51 engaged by an end of a rod or pin 52 which is slidably mounted in thehead, and which at its rear end is pivotally connected to one end of a. link 53. This link is pivoted intermediate its ends, as at 54, to the twisting head, and at its other end, as at 55, is connected with the forward end of a rod 56 which extends rearwardly therefrom through the forward part of the spindle 12, and at its rear end carries a disc like member 57 which may be keyed to the rod 56, as at 58. At the location of this key the spindle 12 is slotted, as at 59, to permit longitudinal moven'ient of the rod 56 and disc 57 with respect to the spindle 12. As will be readily apparent, when the disc member 57 is in forward position, the rod 56 will be in forward posit-ion, the pin 52 will be in retracted position, and the finger 50 will be tilted tt'orwardly to release a tie, all. as shown in Fig. 6. When the disc 57 is in retracted position, the rod 56 will be in retracted position, the rod 52 will be in forward position, and the tie engaging finger 50 will be locked in rearward tilting position to retain a tie thereon for and during twisting thereof.

60 is a lever pivoted at its lower end to a bracket 61 secured to the base 1 of the machine. The upper end 62 of this lever rests against the rear of the disc 57. Intermediate its ends, lever 60 has a riding surface 63, conthe rod 52 of the twisting head constantly holdsthe twisting head 111 tie retaining condition.

From the above description and the draw mgs the operation of the machine will be readily apparent. In normal condition, the clutch members 6 and 7 will be open, the pulley will be rotating freely on the shaft 1, and the twisting hea d will be in tie retaining position with the tie engaging finger extend ing upwardly in convenient position to receive and engage the ends of a tie. In tying a bag or the like, the operator, after he has passed a tie about the neck of the bag, engages the ends of thetie 100 with the linger 50. The operator then depresses the trcadle 83, whereupon finger 2% will be raised behind the finger 21 of shaft 4-, the clutch 6, '7 will become closed upon the pulley 5, and the rotation of shaft -1- starts, causing simultaneous rotation of gear wheel 15 and movement of sector gear 18 to rotate twisting spindle 12 in tie twisting position. As these movements start, the raised surface 13 of cam 14; will ride beneath the cam finger 11 to keep the finger 2" temporarily in raised position. hen gear 15 has completed a one-half revolution, sector gear 18 has completed its movement in tie twisting direction, and at this time or immediately therca f-' ter, cam 6st engages and actuates the lever 00 to move its upper end forwardly, and thus adjusts the twisting head into tie releasing condition. Preferably, when the tie twisting movement of spindle 12 is completed, the tie engaging finger 50 is found to extend downwardly, thus enhancing the ready and practically automatic release of the tie ends from the twisting head. As the gear 1.5 con'ipletes the last half of its single revolution, the sector gear is reciprocated for its full stroke in a reverse direction, thus restoring the twisting head into appropriate tie receiving posi tion with the engaging finger 50 presented upwardly Meanwhile, cam 0-1 has rotated out of engagement with the lever 00, thus permitting the twisting head to restore itself into proper condition for holding and twisting another tie. As the gear 15 approaches the end of its complete revolution, the depressed portion 15 of the cam disc 14; rides under the cam linger 11, thus allowing the finger 2 1 to be depressed by the actionof the spring into the path of rotation of the finger 21 on the shaft 4-. The parts are so synchronized that when the gear has completed its full revolution,

the finger 21 will have ridden over the tapered surface 25 and against the shoulder 20 of the finger 24:, and in consequence the clutch G. 7 will be opened and the shaft 1 stopped. If the operator has released the treadle- 33, allowing the lever to raise, the latch 28 will now be in such engagement with the heel 27 of the finger 2 1 as to permit the operator to start the machine for another cycle of movements by merely depressing the treadle. However,

if the operator has maintained the treadle 33 depressed, the latch 28 will be out of engagement with the heel 27, and the machine.

will stop anyhow at the end of its cycle of movements and will not start again until the o ierator first allows the treadle 33 to raise and then depresses it. The treadle may be eliminated and the machine may be started by sim gilydepressing lever 82 by hand.

The twisting head above described is suited for use with wire ties having looped ends, the loops being adapted to be engaged on the finger. Another form of head, and one which suitable for use with wire ties, 101, having stub or knotted ends, 102, may comprise a finger 103 at the front of the head and two pivotally mounted aw members 101:, 105, having at their front ends tie engaging seats 100 and. 107, which are movable toward and from the finger 103 from opposite sides. 1V hen the seats 1.00, 107 are close to the finger 103, they form therewith grooves through which the tie ends extend, but through which the'enlarged heads of the tie, which are behind the grooves, may not pass. hen the seats 106 and 107 are away from the finger 103, the slots are large enough to permit the hear s at the tie ends to pass therethrough, thus releasing the tie. 108 is a rod longitudinally movable in the head, and at its front end has a boss orcam 109, which coac-ts with heel portion-s 110 and 111 of the jaws 10% and 105 in such a way that when the rod 108 is in forw rd position, the jaws 10-1 and 105 are free to open to release a tie, and when the rod 108 is in retracted poi cn, the jaws 101 and 105 arelocked in tieretaining position. A spring 112 is so associated with the rod 108 as to continually urge this red to assume retracted position. This type of twisting head may be substituted in the machine above (19E. cribs for the'head 18, the rod 108 taking the place of the rod of the head described heretofore.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and as many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mat ter contained in the above description or shown in the accon'ipanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

lVhat I claim is 1. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a twisting head incl uding a pivoted tie engaging member, a pin slidable on said head and engaging said member for placing said member in and out of tie retaining position, a rod slidably mounted in said head and a pivoted link connecting said rod and said slidable pin, and means for adjusting said rod forwardly and rearwardly in said head to pivot said tie engaging member into tie retaining and tie releasing positions 2. In a device of the character described, a rotatable head having a prong adapted to penetrate the loops of loop end wire ties and pivotally movable on the head into a rearwardly inclined tie engaging and retaining position and into a forwardly inclined tie releasing position.

3. In a device of the character described, a rotatable head having a prong adapted to penetrate the loops of loop end wire ties and pivotally movable on the head into a rearrardlyinclined tie engaging and retaining position and into a forwardly inclined tie releasing position, and means normally holding the prong in the rearwardly inclined tie retaining position.

4. In a device of the character described, a rotatable head having a prong adapted to engage in the loops of loop end wire ties and pivotally movable on the head into rearwardly inclined tie retaining position and into forwardly inclined tie releasing position, means normally holding the prong in the rearwardly inclined tie retaining position, and means for moving said prong into said ii'orwardly inclined tie releasing position.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a twisting head including a pivoted prong engageable in the loops of loop end ties, a twisting spindle associated with said head, means including an oscillating member for periodically rotating the spindle a predetermined number of turns first in one direction and then in the reverse direction, and means for maintaining the prong in a rearwardly inclined tie retaining position during rotation ot the spindle in one direction and for then moving the prong into a forwardly inclined tie releasing position.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a twisting head including a pivoted prong engageable in the loops of loop end ties, a twisting spindle associated with said head, means including an oscillating member for periodically rotating the spindle a predetermined number of turns first in one direction and then in the reverse direction, and means for maintaining the prong in a rearwardly inclined tie retaining position during rotation of the spindle in one direction and for then moving the prong into a forwardly inclined tie releasing position,

said oscillating member rotating said spindle two and one-half turnsin each of said directions.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a twisting head in cluding a pivoted prong engageable in the loops of loop end ties, a twisting s indle associated with said head, means inc uding an oscillating member for periodically rotating the spindle a predetermined number of turns first in one direction and then in the reverse direction, means for maintaining the prong in a rearwardly inclined tie retaining position during rotation of the spindle in one direction and for then moving the prong into a forwardly inclined tie releasing position, and an actuator for driving said oscillating member and for operating said last-mentioned means. I

8. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a, twisting head including a pivoted tie engaging prong, a pin slidable on said head and engaging said prong for placing said prong in and out of ie retaining position, a rod slidably mounted in said head and a pivoted link connecting said rod and said slidable pin, a'gear on said spindle, a toothed member in mesh with said gear, an actuator for oscillating said toothed member to rotate said spindle back.

and forth and a connection between said actuat-or and said rod whereby said rod is adjusted to maintain said prongin tie retaining position during rotation of the spindle in one direction and then the rod is retracted to place the prong in tie releasing position.

v 9. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a twisting spindle including a tie-holding head adjustable into and adjustable out of tie-holding condition, means, including an oscillating sector gear for rotating the spindle and head in alternate directions, means, including a rotating cam, for maintaining the head adjusted in tieholding condition during tie-twisting rotation of the spindle, and for then adjusting the head into tie-releasing condition, and

means for driving said oscillating sector gear and cam in synchronism.

Thisspecification signed this 5th day of February, 1924.

HENRY B. FOULDER. 

